Alloy.



FREDERIC W. MOFFETT, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW

ONE-HALF TO HOWARD JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF M. THOMAS, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEWJERSEY.

ALLOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1905.

Application filed May 4, 1904. Renewed April 25, 1905. Serial No.257,368-

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIc W. MoFFETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomfield, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Alloys, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and concise specification.

The present invention relates to an alloy possessing the quality of ahighdegree of toughness combined with a low temperature of fusion andthe further advantage of being slippery to such. an extent that it ispreeminently adapted for use asa bearing metal for journals and thelike.

The essential ingredients of my new alloy are lead and sodium, and inits production I proceed as follows: A quantity of lead is melted in theusual manner and covered with a heavy flux-such, for example, asfluor-sparand the sodium in suitable amount, varying from one-half ofone per cent. to four per cent. of the quantity of the lead, is plungedthrough the flux into the molten metal. On account of the considerabledifference between the specific gravities of the two metals 1 find itnecessary to confine the sodium in a cage or other apertured receptacle,and I attach the latter to the end of the stirring-rod, so that themetal can be quickly introduced into the lead and at the same time beprevented from rising to the surface, where it might become exposed tofree oxygen and be consumed. The process of mixing the two metals willbe facilitated and the loss by oxidation reduced if the sodium isstirred vigorously into the lead at the moment of introduction, asdescribed and claimed in a certain copending application filed by me onthe 19th day of July, 1904, and numbered 217,238. Immediately upon thecoalescing of the two metals the alloy may be poured and cooled and isthen ready for use in the same manner as ordinary bearing or Babbittmetals.

The proportions of sodium may be varied considerably within the limitsabove given. When containing the lowest percentage of those mentioned,the product alloy is much harder than lead, but still too soft forpractical service as a journal or bearing metal, affording, however, anexcellent material for plumbers traps, thin piping, and other a-rti cleswhich are required to be both flexible and tough. I have observed thatincrease of the proportion of sodium results in a decrease in themelting-point of the alloy and renders it at the same time more readilyoxidizable. The latter feature is so pronounced that with the maximumproportion stated of four per cent. the product alloy oxidizes so freelyas to require close protection against moisture in order to beserviceable at all; but it is extremely hard and tenacious. For generaland practical use as a journal-bearing metal, however, the sodium shouldbe added in the proportions of from about one per cent. to two per cent.of the amount of lead, which Will result in an alloy having all theadvantages of toughness and slipperiness hereinbefore mentioned andmelting at a temperature well above that ever likely to occur injournal-bearings and at the same time not so high but that it can bemelted in an ordinary ladle and safely poured into cast-ironjournalseats. The shrinkage on cooling will be found to be so slight asto be negligible, and the bearing when formed will require the minimumof lubrication, giving most satisfactory results. The alloy is tough andhard and is sufiiciently elastic to have a decided metallic ring, and,furthermore, it is entirely free from the objections of flaking ormashing under heavy loads. My experiments have indicated that the bestresults for general purposes can be secured by adding approximately oneand one-half pounds of sodium to one hundred pounds of lead, themelting-point of this mixture being about 585 Fahrenheit.

Other metals may be added to the alloy, if desired, or mixed with itduring its manufacture for special purposes; but metals, such asantimony and bismuth or other ingredients which haveahardening eii'ectonlead, will not be necessary and except in minute amounts will beinjurious to the operation of the product as a bearing metal. Aluminiumand tin, which are substantially indifferent in this respect, may beadded in amounts up to about ten per cent. of the whole withoutseriously impairing the quality of the product; but these additions,while being objectionable on account of the extra expense, would notimprove the efficiency of the alloy as a bearing metal or materiallyalter it otherwise except in weight and appearance.

Having described my invention, what I taining sodium in the proportionof one and claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, one-half percent. of the amount of lead, subis as follows: stantially as described.

1. 'As a new composition of matter, an alloy In testimony whereof I havesigned my name 5 containing lead and sodium and containing to thespecification in the presence of two sub- 5 sodium in the proportion offrom one-half of scribing witnesses.

one per cent. to four per cent. of the amount FREDERIG W. MOFFETT. oflead, substantially as described. Witnesses:

2. As a new antifriction-bearing metal, an G. A. TAYLOR,

IO alloy composed of lead and sodium and con- H. G. KIMBALL.

